52 held for rioting over molestation by PE teacher

Fifty-two people have been arrested so far in connection with the mob violence that followed a complaint by a seven-year-old girl that her physical education teacher had molested her at a private school in Hosaguddadahalli, off Mysuru Road, on January 7.

Police said they arrested the suspects after checking the footage of CCTV cameras installed in the locality and press photographs of the violence.

The suspects are residents of JJ Nagar, Goripalya, Kuvempu Nagar and the surrounding localities. They have been sent to jail. More arrests are likely in the days to come, according to a senior police officer.

Police have conducted a survey and identified some places in the sensitive neighbourhood to instal CCTV cameras to ensure better policing. 

Meanwhile, the girl who complained of sexual abuse has recorded her statement before the magistrate.

Her parents had alleged she was molested by the PE teacher in the school toilet on January 6. 

The officer quoted above said that the girl’s parents had gone to the school to demand action against the teacher but things went out of control as nearly 2,000 people crowded the school. Some of them then barged into the school and beat up the teacher.